MORAY MP SLAMS LIB-DEM ROAD CHARGING LUNACY
Posted on Wednesday, June 18 2008
PROPOSALS WOULD COST MORAY FOLK THOUSANDSThe SNP's Westminster Member of Parliament for Moray, Angus Robertson, has condemned Lib-Dem plans to replace road tax with an 8 pence per kilometre surcharge on motorists. The levy policy, announced by the Lib Dems, could even rise as high as 12p/km for the ‘most polluting’ vehicles, such as 4x4s - an essential mode of transport for many rural workers.The Lib Dems claim the plans are "a radical alternative vision for transport in the 21 century", however if they were ever implemented an 8p per kilometre charge would translate to £9.26 for a round trip from Tomintoul to Elgin. For a year's worth of commuting, assuming 5 days a week for 48 weeks, this works out at an incredible £2222.40 compared to an existing road tax rate of under £200 for an average family car.A commute from Forres to Elgin would cost £729.60, while Buckie to Elgin would be over £1,000 per annum.When you look further to a journey from Elgin to Aberdeen the cost rises to a ridiculous £16.90 for the round trip.Commenting local MP Angus Robertson said: “ These plans are absolute lunacy. Having access to a car is a necessity for many people in Moray. Yet under this scheme, a commuter from Buckie to Elgin would end up paying over £1,000 per year in road charges, while commuting from Tomintoul would cost an absolutely outrageous £2,222 plus fuel and running costs. That’s before you consider anything else that you might use a car for, like shopping or visiting relatives. “ These measures, far from helping the environment, will hit hard working families and businesses hard, especially in rural areas like Moray. If they wanted to help hard pressed rural motorists, the Lib Dems could have supported a practical measure like the SNP policy of a fuel price regulator, which would use the Treasury’s windfall from high oil prices to reduce fuel duty. Sadly, they've chosen a policy that would ramp up the cost of living with no conception of how life is lived in the North & North East. “ This policy is ridiculous for Moray and ridiculous for Scotland as a whole. Scottish Lib Dem MPs must have been asleep at the wheel when this scheme was dreamt up."
MORAY MP RESTATES CASE FOR FUEL DUTY REGULATOR
Posted on Tuesday, June 17 2008
FUEL COSTS BITE HARD ACROSS MORAYMoray's SNP MP Angus Robertson has restated the SNP's case for a Fuel Duty Regulator which he argues would take the inflationary bite out of fuel prices. In the wake of high profile warnings on the economy by the CBI and Bank of England it looks almost certain that the pressure of fuel prices will continue to grow. An economic forecast by the CBI warns that rising commodity costs and weaker consumer demand will combine to push down next year’s GDP growth to the lowest rate since 1992, while the Bank of England Governor Mervyn King warns that inflation could soar above 4% as oil and energy prices spiral. Commenting on the situation Angus Robertson MP said: “ This week's economy warnings paint a bleak picture, and underline just how unprepared Gordon Brown has left the country to cope." In Moray we have numerous industries such as agriculture and fisheries that are particularly affected by fuel prices and for almost any production and manufacturing industry in Moray our geographical position means distribution costs could soar." Local hauliers are having to add fuel surcharges to bills in order to keep a passable profit margin and this cost has to borne by all levels of industry and ultimately the end consumers.“ The CBI forecasts four grim quarters of falling manufacturing output and 18 months of falling manufacturing investment. “ Both the CBI and Bank of England are right to point to spiralling oil and energy prices which will exacerbate the slowing of the economy and push up inflation. “ These are not so much forecasts as warnings, which will see unemployment rise this year and next." For people in Moray where we have a low average income compared to the rest of the UK these warnings are causing real concern and the Chancellor needs to take decisive action." The SNP has a proposal on the table that would at least ease some of the pain associated with high fuel costs.“ The UK Government must adopt the policy of a fuel duty regulator now so that the economy is not further damaged by the super spikes in fuel prices forecast before the end of the year.” Ends.
Burgie Horse Trials supported by Moray MP
Posted on Monday, June 16 2008
The 2008 Burgie Horse Trials have been described as a tremendous success by Moray MP Angus Robertson who awarded the prizes at the close of the weekend competition, including to one star competition victor Ruth Edge and two star class winner Zara Phillips. The Westminster SNP Leader said that “Moray and the north of Scotland should be proud of the high standard of the event and extremely grateful to organisers Polly and Hugh Lochore”. Speaking at the close of the event Mr Robertson said: “This 30th anniversary Burgie Horse Trials has been a tremendous success with an extremely high standard of competition. “It was great to see Scottish rider Ruth Edge win the one star competition, and hopefully her winning form will take her to the Olympics. “Zara Phillips was a great draw for the event and was close to pulling of the double after having won the two star class. “Burgie Horse Trials continues to attract excellent competitors from across the home nations and overseas which is largely down to the fantastic organisational efforts of Polly and Hugh Lochore”. “We owe a real debt of gratitude to them and the whole Burgie team”. Ends.
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